THE LITTLE CHILD 
AT THE <£ <£ <& 
BREAKFAST TABLE 



BV 

.U3 





Book 



>6 



Copyright N°. 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT 



THE LITTLE CHILD 
AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE 



AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE; DAYS AND SEASONS; 

LITTLE PRAYERS FOR MORNING, BED-TIME, 

AND HOUSEHOLD THANKSGIVINGS 



ARRANGED BY 
WILLIANLAND MARY GANNETT 



•3 •! 




BOSTON 

THE BEACON PRESS 

25 BEACON STREET 






Copyright, 1915, 
By THE BEACON PRESS, Inc. 



Stanbope ipma 

F. H. CILSON COMPANY 
BOSTON. U.S.A. 

©O.A410023 

AUG -i 1915 



JU 



/ 



CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Morning in the Home: an Explanation of the Book. ... 3 

AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE 
Thirty-One Readings 

I. Home-Love 13 

W. B. Rands. 

II. The Bird and the Night 14 

(1) Martin Luther. (2) Jesus, Matt, x: 29; 
Deut. xxxiii: 27. 

III. Lilies 15 

(1) Jesus, Matt, vi: 28, 29. (2) Mary F. Butts. 

IV. What Told Me? 16 

Theodore Parker. 

V. The Inner Voice 17 

W. C. Gannett. 

VI. Jesus and the Children 18 

(1) Jesus, Mark x: 13-16. (2) Mrs. J. Luke. 

VII. Who Prayeth Well 19 

(1) S. T. Coleridge; Jesus, Matt, xxv: 40.* 

(2) Rowland Hill. 

Song I. "Hear us, heavenly Father" 20 

VIII. God 21 

(1) \Psalm cxxxix: 7-12. (2) Psalms cxlv: 9, 18; 

cxlvii: 3. 4- 

IX. Sun, Moon and Stars 22 

Joseph Addison. 

X. In the Father's House 23 

W. C. Gannett. 

XI. Bird-Flight 24 

Harriet M. Kimball. 

XII. One Little Star 25 

Susan Coolidge* 

XIII. The Light in the Face 26 

(1) C. Buxton. (2) F. W. Robertson. 

(3) R. W. Emerson*; Unknown. 

XIV. A Bunch of Heart-Keys 27 

(1,2) Unknown. (3) Jesus, Luke vi: 31. 

(4) Paul, Rom. xii: 21. (5) E. E. Hale. 

Song II. "Lead us, heavenly Father" 28 

* Slightly altered, 
[iii] 



PAGE 

XV. The Sunday is Here 29 

(1) Unity Services and Songs. 

(2) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

XVI. The Shepherd 30 

(1) Psalm xxiii. (2) J. Montgomery. 
XVII. The Friendly Day 31 

(1) Mrs. A. L. Barbauld. 

(2) The Way of Life.* 

XVIII. Beatitudes 32 

(1) F. L. Hosmer. (2) Jesus, Matt, v: 3-10. 

XIX. If There be Any Kindness 33 

(1) Peter, Acts x: 38. (2, 3) Unknown. 
(4) R. M. Milnes. 

XX. The Greatest Thing in the World 34 

Paul, / Cor. xiii* 

XXI. Abou Ben Adhem 35 

Leigh Hunt. 
Song III. "Father, we thank thee" 36 

XXII. In the Arms of God 37 

Robert Collyer.* 

XXIII. Back of the Loaf 38 

(1) Jesus, Matt, vi: n. (2) M. D. Babcock. 

(3) Psalms cxlv: 15, 16; cxlvii: 9; civ: 14. 

(4) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

XXIV. An All-Day Prayer 39 

The Way of Life* 

XXV. Another Blue Day 40 

(1) Thomas Carlyle. 

XXVI. Think on These Things 41 

F. L. Hosmer (Phil, iv: 8). 

XXVII. I Can, I Ought, I Will 42 

(1) R. W. Emerson. (2) C. Kingsley.* 
(3,* 4) Unknown. 

XXVIII. Love Makes Life 43 

(1) Mrs. E. T. Leonard* (2) J. R. Lowell. 

Song IV. " Gladly, bravely, on and on " . . . 44 

XXIX. Like a Mother 45 

Saxe Holm. 

XXX. More Than This 46 

W. B. Rands. 

XXXI. The Glad Tidings 47 

(1) Luke viii: 1. (2) O. R. Lovejoy.* 

Song V. "Holy, pure, and thine" 48 

[ iv 1 



DAYS AND SEASONS 

PAGE 

New Year 51 

(1) D. M.Craik. (2) J. W. Chadwick. 
(3) O. W. Holmes. 

Spring Birth 52 

(1) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

(2) Robert Browning. 

Summer Beauty 53 

(1) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

(2) Mrs. E. H. Leland* 

Harvest Bounty 54 

(1) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

(2) W. C. Gannett. 

Winter Glory 55 

(1) Unity Hymns and Chorals. 

(2) Mrs. F. W. Wile. 

Easter 56 

(2) F. L. Hosmer. 

The Christmas Poem 57 

Luke ii: 4-20. 40. 

Washington's Birthday 59 

(1, 2) George Washington. 

(3) J. R. Lowell. 

Lincoln's Birthday 60 

(1, 2, 3) Abraham Lincoln. 

(4) J. R. Lowell. 

Birthdays in the Home 61 

Four Friends. 

Our Country 62 

(1) Katherine L. Bates. 

(2) Old Testament* 

The Brotherhood of Nations 63 

(1) J. G. Whittier. 

(2) Composite. 

(3) Isaiah ii, xi, xxxii, lv. 



[v] 



LITTLE PRAYERS 



Morning 

I. Composite 

II. N. N. Evans 

III. Composite 

IV. J. P. Hopps 

V. Mrs. R. W. G* 

VI. G. C. L. (?) 
VII. W. DeW. Hyde 



page 
67 
67 
67 
68 
68 
69 
69 



Bed-Time 



I. Composite 

II. Mary Dunv 

III. John Pieri> 

IV. H. S. Kent 

V. C. G. D. Roberts*. 

VI. S. T. Coleridge. . . 
VII. S. Baring-Gould*. 



73 

73 
73 
74 
74 



Household Thanksgiving 

I. Unknown 
II. \V. C. Gannett 

III. (1) M. D. Babcock. (2) Unknov. 

IV. Numbers vi : 24-26 

V. Unknown. — "The Hampton Grace' 



79 
79 
80 
80 
81 



[ vi ) 



MORNING IN THE HOME 



MORNING IN THE HOME 

WITH AN EXPLANATION OF THE BOOK 



In our home we had long been in the habit of 
reading at the breakfast table from a little book 
called " Daily Strength," and we loved the habit 
and the book. The reading began the busy day 
with a quiet moment of thankfulness, in which we 
all joined. While the children were little, they 
sat silent by our side, feeling only that it was a 
morning word with God in their home, somewhat 
like their own word with him at night. But as 
they grew old enough to read, we wished them to 
take part with us in this household greeting. We 
felt that we should fail as parents unless it became 
dear to them as well as to us; and we wanted the 
memory of our morning thanksgivings to mingle 
deeply with their recollections of the old home, 
their childhood and ourselves. But the words 
that we elders found on the page for the day were 
seldom adapted to them. Not that the thoughts 
were all too high for our little transcendentalists, 
but the life-problems dwelt on were often remote 
from a child's experience, and the forms of expres- 
sion not in accord with the mind of a child, who 
needs words short and simple and suggestive of 
pictures. 

[3] 



Finding no book quite fitted to our purpose, we 
arranged and printed a small collection of readings, 
calling it "The Little Child at the Breakfast 
Table." There were but thirty-one readings in 
all, one for each day of the month. That seemed 
enough for variety, yet not too many for love, as 
repetition might make them familiar. Children 
welcome repetition of that which they like. 

This was eighteen years ago. All came about as 
we had hoped, only better than our hope. Month 
after month the home-day opened with the little 
book read at the breakfast table. There were 
favorites, of course, but gradually everything in it 
became known almost by heart. Our thought had 
been to provide something for the five to ten-year 
old period; but, by the children's own love and 
choice, it lasted well over the edge of their teens, 
and until, with their help, we began to arrange a 
somewhat older collection to take its place. As 
long as they live, they will remember the morning 
moment that made "God," "Home," and mother- 
and-father love, parts of one thought and feeling. 
Can the thought of God have more beautiful inter- 
pretation and setting? 



Our little book has been tested in other homes 
than our own. And now, with changes and addi- 
tions, we are going to reprint it, hoping that in a 
still wider circle it may help to make the day 

[4l 



beautiful. Are not many mothers and fathers to- 
day vaguely longing for some kind of " household 
altar," fitted to our own time and feeling? A few 
of these may like to try our simple way. Not a 
return to the old form of ''family prayers," but 
some custom akin to it is needed, — greatly needed, 
if conscious reverence be a quality as worthy of 
culture in ourselves and in our children as truthful- 
ness and kindness. For the unfolding of the sense 
of God in a child's heart a daily Quiet Moment, 
in which household love and household reverence 
blend, has more influence than the Church, — and 
far more than the Sunday school, to which so 
many parents of to-day have relegated the religious 
training of their children. 

Let no one, before trial, fear an empty form in 
such a usage. There are homes in which it may 
at first seem that way, even while they welcome 
what it means, and what it perhaps may bring to 
them, if quietly tried for a little while. There are 
homes in which it might always seem that way, so 
little in the rest of the day would tune with it. 
But there are many homes in which it does not 
seem impossible or unnatural to do tender and 
reverent things together and habitually. The 
" Good-morning" and " Good-night, " and bed- 
time kisses, if always said and always given, are 
" forms," yet anything but "empty"; in most 
homes they are loved, and, if omitted, missed. A 

[5] 



house seems hardly "home" without some little 
rites of tenderness. So with this other habit of 
the day; it is a household rite of reverence, as 
those ways are rites of love. Reverence, after all, 
is natural; and conscious reverence, like conscious 
love, craves self-expression; and its simple expres- 
sion gives to the home a second grace and charm. 
A charm so real, and now so rare, that the stranger 
within the gates, beholding it, is apt to go away 
remembering and telling of it as a surprise of 
beauty. It takes no laughter from the day, but 
seems to add a bright and happy seriousness to 
living. It deepens value in the little things of daily 
life. 

Therefore we plead with lovers, when they are 
founding their new homes of wedded life, and while 
the ways of tenderness are natural, not " forms," 
to try this way of facing their ideals together in a 
Quiet Moment once a day. Conscious facing of 
ideals in a humble, grateful, resolving spirit, — 
that is " prayer " ; and to do this together is to have a 
" household altar. " It will keep home safer, dearer, 
holier to all within it. Later, as little brothers and 
sisters begin to cluster around the table, still more 
for their sake try this way: it will make their child- 
hood sweeter while it lasts, and may make great 
difference to them in after-life. Children are not 
so self-conscious as we elders, and it may sometimes 
happen that they will even train the parents to re- 

[6] 



ligious self-expression. "A little child shall lead 
them." 



Our readings are arranged in weekly groups, 
each group of seven beginning among thoughts of 
God, and passing into thoughts of man and the life 
of love and service. Many of the selections come 
from the Bible, being a few of the two or three 
hundred Bible- verses that everyone had better have 
in heart as he has the multiplication-table; but 
more come from other books. In some passages 
slight changes in the text have been ventured, to 
fit them better for our special use; if such changes 
are at all important, the author's name is starred 
in the table of contents. We have not gone far 
afield to find readings, nor sought for rarities; but 
our aim has been that everything, however simple, 
should be worth remembering through life. Hence 
it happens that some of the selections are plainly 
over the heads of five-year-olds, — now and then, 
especially in the section called "Days and Seasons," 
perhaps too far above them. We wanted what 
would not be outgrown, like their kindergarten 
songs, but might be grown up to, gathering meaning 
until the child should be at least twelve years old. 
Only so are the deep and tender associations formed. 
"The Bible passages that mean most to me now 
are those we read over and over in the little book, 
or in the service at church, M said one of our children. 

[71 



There will not be much trouble, after all, from these 
over-head selections; for give a picture- thought, 
and the five-year-old imagination will soon be busy 
and happy with it. 

For the sake of these smaller children, however, 
in this new edition a very simple two-line prayer 
has been added to each day's reading, — so short 
and simple that even the youngest can catch the 
words in a moment, and begin to take part with the 
others. There are but five of these prayers, one 
for each week of the month. For homes in which 
a morning song may be loved, at the end of each 
week's readings will be found a prayer-song with 
its music. The five sweet and simple tunes are 
already familiar to many of our children from use 
in Sunday school. 

At the end of the thirty-one daily readings are 
added a few selections for special days and seasons ; 
also little prayers in prose and verse for morning, 
bed-time, and meal- time use by children, — some for 
very little children, others by those older. Mothers 
often ask for such prayers. No one knows so well 
as mothers that the bed-time hour is the holy of 
holies in the child's day, and the best of all oppor- 
tunities to meet the soul of the child in its closet 
and help it feel out right and happy relations to 
God and man. At the household meals, dearer to 
some of us than any spoken "grace" is the custom 
of joining hands around the circle and bowing the 

[8] 



head for a moment of unspoken thanks, — and this 
at every meal-time. It is hard to feel indifferent 
to that symbol of the best and tenderest things in 
home-life, or to resist its silent appeal. The littlest 
child knows dimly what it means; and if in some 
morning hurry we neglect it, it is likely to be our 
three-year-old who will remind us. But others may 
prefer the spoken way, and for these a few childlike 
forms of household thanksgiving are provided. 



Besides authors, old and new, from whom we 
borrow verse or sentence, and to whom we render 
due and hearty thanks, several friends have helped 
in this re-making of our little book. It owes much 
to suggestions from our children ; to hours of counsel 
with Mrs. Frances W. Wile, and with Mr. and Mrs. 
Henry W. Foote; and to the painstaking care which 
the Rev. Florence Buck has kindly given to every 
page. To work with friends at such a task as this, 
though it be small, is privilege and joy. 

William and Mary Gannett. 

May, 1915. 



[9] 



AT THE BREAKFAST TABLE 



I 

HOME-LOVE 

Mother, fold me to your knees : 
How much should I care for these 
Little joys that come and go, 
If you did not love me so? 

Father, now my prayer is said, 
Lay your hand upon my head: 
Pleasures pass from day to day, 
But I know that Love will stay. 

While I sleep, it will be near; 
I shall wake and find it here; 
I shall feel it in the air, 
When I say my morning prayer. 

Love is old, and Love is new; 
You love me, and I love you; 
And the Lord who made it thus 
Did it in his love for us. 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 

[ 13] 



II 

THE BIRD AND THE NIGHT 

One evening when Luther saw a little bird 
perched on a tree, to roost there for the night, he 
said, "This little bird has had its supper, and now 
it is getting ready to go to sleep here, secure and 
content, never troubling itself what its food will be, 
or where its lodging on the morrow. Like David, 
it ' abides under the shadow of the Almighty/ It 
sits on its little twig content, and lets God take 
care." 



Not one sparrow falleth on the ground without 
your Father. 

The Eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath 
are the Everlasting Arms. 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 



[ 14 1 



Ill 

LILIES 

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; 
they toil not, neither do they spin ; yet I say unto 
you that even Solomon in all his glory was not 
arrayed like one of these. 



O star on the breast of the river, 

marvel of bloom and grace, 

Did you fall straight down from heaven, 

Out of the sweetest place? 
You are white as the thought of an angel, 

Your heart is steeped in the sun : 
Did you grow in the Golden City, 

My pure and shining one? 

1 Nay, nay, I fell not out of heaven, 
None gave me my saintly white; 

It slowly grew from the blackness 
Down in the dreary night. 

From the ooze of the silent river 

1 won my glory and grace: 
White souls fall not, O my poet, — 

They rise to the sweetest place. " 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 
[ i5 1 



IV 

WHAT TOLD ME? 

One fine day in Spring, before I was four years 
old, my father led me by the hand to a distant 
part of the farm, but soon sent me home alone. 
On the way I had to pass a pond-hole in the field. 
A rhodora flower in full bloom drew me to the spot. 
I saw a little spotted tortoise sunning himself in 
the water at the foot of the flaming shrub. I lifted 
the stick I had in my hand to strike it, but all at 
once something checked my little arm, and a voice 
within me said, clear and loud, "It is wrong!" 

I held my uplifted stick in wonder at the new 
feeling. Then I ran home, and told the story to 
my mother, and asked what it was that told me it 
was wrong. She wiped a tear from her eye with 
her apron, and, taking me in her arms, said, "Some 
men call it Conscience; but I like better to call it 
the Voice of God in the soul of man. If you listen 
and obey it, then it will speak clearer and clearer, 
and always guide you right. But if you turn a 
deaf ear, or disobey, then it will fade out little by 
little, and leave you all in the dark and without a 
guide. Your life depends on your heeding this 
little voice." 

Together 
Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 
[ 16 ] 



V 

THE INNER VOICE 

I hear it often in the dark, 

I hear it in the light, — 
Where is the Voice that comes to me 

With such a quiet might? 

It seems but echo to my thought, 
And yet beyond the stars ! 

It seems a heart-beat in a hush, 
And yet the planet jars! 

O may it be that, far within 
My inmost soul, there lies 

A spirit-sky, that opens with 
Those Voices of surprise? 

Then is thy heaven my very soul ! 

And thine, so sweet and strong, 
The Breath that sweeps its silences 

And fills my heart with song! 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 

[ 17] 



VI 

JESUS AND THE CHILDREN 

They brought young children to Jesus, that he 
should touch them ; and his disciples rebuked those 
that brought them. But Jesus said, Suffer little 
children to come unto me, and forbid them not; 
for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

And he took them up in his arms, put his hands 
on them, and blessed them. 



I think, when I read that sweet story of old, 

When Jesus was here among men, 
How he called little children as lambs to his fold, 

I should like to have been with him then. 
I wish that his hand had been placed on my head, 

That his arm had been thrown around me, 
That I might have seen his sweet look when he said, 

"Let the little ones come unto me." 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 



[ 18 ] 



VII 

WHO PRAYETH WELL 

He prayeth well who loveth well 
Both man and bird and beast, 

For he hath offered to the Lord 
Who giveth to his least. 

He prayeth best who loveth best 
All things both great and small, 

For the dear God who loveth us, 
He made and loveth all. 



I would give nothing for that man's religion, 
whose very dog and cat are not the better for it. 



Together 

Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 



[ i9l 



HEAR US, HEAVENLY FATHER 

John Adcock 



I 



^ 



i 



-m 



SE 



P^^^i^^ 



1. Hear us, heav'n-ly Fa-ther, 

2. Hold us close, our Fa-ther, 



Thou whose gen - tie 
Ev - er clo - ser 



9-^ 



t±=* 



*\-\ \ iU** 






P=£gP^ 



care Tends the young and fee- ble, Hear oursim-ple 

till We, thine own true children, Love thy ho - ly 

h 



'T 1 



^^ 



§» 



*=*= 



r^rrr 






v— y— y- 



i 



fe 



pp 



-4- 



I 



^ 



3=^ 



.^ 



T^ 



prayer. Hear our prayer ! Fa - ther, hear 1 

will. Hear our prayer ! Fa - ther, hear I 

■T^ 4 



m 



o 



§5£ 



-=he- 



-=*-*- 



[20] 



May be read in responses 

VIII 

GOD 

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? 

Whither shall I flee from thy presence? 
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there! 

If I make my bed in the grave, behold, thou art 
there ! 
If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the 
uttermost parts of the sea, even there shall 
thy hand lead me: 
And thy right hand shall hold me. 
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me, even 
the night shall be light about me. 
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee, but the 
night shineth as the day: the darkness and 
the light are both alike to thee. 



The Lord is good to all: 

And his tender mercies are over all his works. 
He telleth the number of the stars ; 

He calleth them all by their names. 
He healeth the broken in heart, 

And bindeth up their wounds. 
He is nigh unto all that call upon him : 

To all that call upon him in truth. 



Together 
Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 

[21 ] 



IX. SUN, MOON AND STARS 

The spacious firmament on high, 

With all the blue ethereal sky, 

And spangled heavens, a shining frame, 

Their great Original proclaim. 

The unwearied Sun from day to day 

Doth his Creator's power display, 

And publishes to every land 

The work of an Almighty Hand. 

Soon as the evening shades prevail, 
The Moon takes up the wondrous tale, 
And nightly to the listening Earth 
Repeats the story of her birth; 
While all the Stars that round her burn, 
And all the Planets in their turn, 
Confirm the tidings as they roll, 
And spread the truth from pole to pole. 

What though in solemn silence all 
Move round the dark terre>trial ball; 
What though no real voice nor sound 
Amid their radiant orbs be found; 
In Reason's ear they all rejoice, 
And utter forth a glorious voice, 
Forever singing as they shine, 
"The Hand that made us is divine!" 



Together: Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 
[ 22 \ 



X. IN THE FATHER'S HOUSE 

I read of "many mansions" 

Within the House Divine, 
But need not go to find them, 

For one of them is mine. 
God lives in mine, and loves me, 

Who else could bring me day? 
Who spreads the sleep upon me? 

Who gives me hands to play? 

Our Father close beside me, 

I feel him always near 
In every face that loves me, 

And each kind word I hear; 
In touch of mother-fingers, 

And tender father-care, 
In joy that comes of trying, 

And help inside my prayer. 

I do not understand it, — 

In everything is He; 
There always is that Other 

Whom I so dimly see. 
And when I say "Our Father," 

It seems so far away 
To think of Heaven up yonder, — 

I think of Home, and pray. 



Together: Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 
[23] 



XI 

BIRD-FLIGHT 

O wise little birds, how do ye know 

The way to go, 
Southward and northward, to and fro? 

Far up in the ether piped they: 

"We but obey 
One who calleth us far away. 

"He calleth and called] year by year, 

Now there, now ht 
Ever he maketh the way appear." 

Dear little birds! He calleth me 

Who calleth ye: 
Would that I might as trusting be! 



Together 

Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 



24 



XII 

ONE LITTLE STAR 

One little star in the starry night, 
One little beam in the noon-day light, 
One little drop in the river's might, — 
What can it be, O what can it do? 

One little flower in the flower-full Spring, 
One little feather in one little wing, 
One little note, when the many birds sing, — 
All are so little, feeble and few! 

Each little star has its special ray, 
Each little beam has its place in the day, 
Each little river-drop impulse and way, 

Feather and flower and songlet help, too. 

Each little child can some love- work find, 
Each little hand, and each little mind, 
All can be gentle and useful and kind : 
O what can / be, and what can I do? 



Together 

Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 

[25] 



XIII 

THE LIGHT IN THE FACE 

You have not done every duty, unless you have 
done that of being pleasant. 



What was the secret of her power? What had 
she done? Nothing; but radiant smiles, beaming 
good-humor, the tact of divining what every one 
felt and every one wanted, told that she had got 
out of self and learned to think of others. So that 
at one time it showed itself in stilling the likely 
quarrel by sweet word- beforehand, at another by 
smoothing an invalid's pillow, at another by noth- 
ing a sobbing child. None but she saw those 
things. None but a loving heart coui hem. 

A loving heart — that was the secret of her heav- 
enly power. 



There is no beautifier of face or form or behavior 
like the wish to scatter joy around us. 
Keep the light in your face. 



Together 

Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear wa 



20 



XIV 

A BUNCH OF HEART-KEYS 

Hearts, like doors, open with ease 

To very, very little keys; 

And never forget that two of these 

Are " I thank you" and " If you please." 



Politeness is to do and say 

The kindest thing in the kindest way. 



Do to others as ye would that they should 
do to you. 



Not overcome of evil, 

But overcoming evil with good. 



Look up, and not down; 
Look forward, and not back; 
Look out, and not in ; 
And lend a hand. 



Together 

Lead us, Father, day by day, 
Ever in thine own dear way. 

I 27] 



LEAD US, HEAVENLY FATHER 

Brooke Herford C. W. Wendte 

4- 



^§| 



E*E# 



5 1 7fz±^ 



I 

i. Lead us, heav'n-ly Fa - ther, Lead us,Shepherd kind ! 
2. Lead us, heav'n-ly Fa - ther, In our ope - ning way, 



spa 



;± 



m 



as 



=« 



^^ 



-;-* 



jO 



* • « 



=Tt=5T 



z 



s 



We are on - ly chil- dren, Weak and young and blind. 
Lead us in the morn -ing Of our lit - tie day ! 

9 T i ■ 



Oh, 



3» — W 



I '-:! 



L^JT^i i 



All the way be-fore us, Thou a- lone dost know ; 
While our hearts are hap- py, While our souls are free, 



ift-s-*- 



= *'l 



t 



5- 



-: 



"U - r 



pH= 



* !"■? 



*J::"< 



a 



t j» 



5: 



Lead us, heav'n-ly Fa • ther, 
May we give our childhood 



Sing - ing as we go 1 
As a song to thee ! 



E 



*fi? 



n 






:. t 



=5= 



I i 



-> == 



? ' 



Lead us, heav'n-ly Fa - ther. Sing -ing as we go I 
May we give our child - hood As a song to thee ! 




[28] 



XV 

THE SUNDAY IS HERE 

The Sunday is here ! 
It cometh, sent to us from heaven; 
It falls like the dew on the fever of care; 
It calls men from labor; 
It breathes its wide quiet* 
O'er country and town. 

The Sunday is here! 

The chain of the plow is not clanging, 

The cattle are resting, the wheel doth not turn; 

The father and mother 

And children, together, 

Thank God in the home. 

The Sunday is here! 
We go to the hills of the Spirit; 
We rest in their silence, we drink of their joy; 
We pray for his blessing, 
We sing of his mercies, 
Who leadeth us on. 



Holy, peaceful the Day, and the heart sings songs, 
Sings the song of Home and of Love : 
Quietly over the earth moves Love. 



Together 
Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 
[ 29 ] 



XVI 

THE SHEPHERD 

The Lord is my shepherd ; I shall not want. 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he 
leadeth me beside the still waters. 

He restoreth my soul : he leadeth me in the paths 
of righteousness for his name's sak 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the 
shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art 
with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all 
the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of 
the Lord for ever. 



The Lord is my Shepherd, no want shall I know; 

I feed in green pastures, safe-folded I rest; 
He leadeth my soul where the sweet water- How, 

Restores me when wandering, redeems when 
oppressed. 



Together 

Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 



30 



May be read in responses 

XVII 



THE FRIENDLY DAY 

Who is the Great Name? 

The Great Name is God ! 

He is more excellent than 

all which he hath made. 
They are beautiful : 

But he is Beauty. 
They are good : 

But he is Goodness. 
They are strong: 

But he is Strength. 



Our heavenly Father, thine is the beauty of this 
fair and friendly day. May all that is beautiful 
remind us of thee, the Infinite Beauty! May all 
that is good remind us of thee, the Perfect Good- 
ness! May all that is true lead us to thee, the 
Source of all Truth ! Breathe thy loving Spirit on 
us all, and make thy morning shine within our 
hearts as in the skies above. Help us to make 
more beautiful thy day! 



Together 

Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 
[31 ] 



XVIII. BEATITUDES 

The voice of old by Jordan's flood 

Yet floats upon the air; 
We hear it in beatitude, 

In parable and prayer. 

And still the beauty of that life 
Shines star-like on our way, 

And breathes its calm amid the strife 
And burden of to-day. 



Blessed are the poor (the humble) in spirit; for 
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 

Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be 
comforted. 

Blessed are the meek (the gentle in heart); for 
they shall inherit the earth. 

Blessed are they who do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness; for they shall be filled. 

Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain 
mercy. 

Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall 
God. 

Blessed are the peacemakers; for they shall be 
called the children of God. 

Blessed are they who are persecuted for right- 
eousness* sake; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 



Together: Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 
[32 ] 



XIX 

IF THERE BE ANY KINDNESS 
Of Jesus it was said, " He went about doing good." 



Do all the good you can, 
In all the ways you can, 
To all the people you can, 
In every place you can, 
At all the times you can, 
As long as ever you can. 



I expect to pass through this world but once. 
If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or 
any good thing I can do to any fellow-being, let 
me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for 
I shall not pass this way again. 



An arm of aid to the weak, 
A friendly hand to the friendless, 
Kind words, so short to speak, 
But whose echo is endless, — 
The world is wide, these things are small, 
They may be nothing, — they may be all. 



Together 
Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 
[33] 



May be read in responses 

XX 

THE GREATEST THING IN THE WORLD 

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of 
angels, and though I understand all knowledge, 
and though I have all faith, so that I could 
remove mountains, and have not Love, — 
I am nothing. 
And though I give all my goods to feed the poor, 
and though I give my body to be burned, and 
have not Love, — 
It profiteth me nothing. 
Love suffereth long, and is kind; Love envieth not; 

Love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up; 
Doth not behave it-elf unseemly, seeketh not her 
own ; 
Is not easily provoked, resenteth no evil; 
Beareth all things, trusted) all things, 

Hopeth all things, endureth all things. 
Love never faileth; (good things many we out- 
grow), but now abidcth Faith, Hope, Love, these 
three: 
And the greatest of these is Love. 



Together 

Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 

[34 1 






XXI 

ABOU BEN ADHEM 

Abou Ben Adhem (may his tribe increase!) 
Awoke one night from a deep dream of peace, 
And saw within the moonlight in the room, 
Making it rich and like a lily in bloom, 
An Angel writing in a book of gold. 
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adhem bold, 
And to the Presence in the room he said, 
"What writest thou?" The Vision raised its head, 
And, with a look made all of sweet accord, 
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord." 
"And is mine one?" said Adhem. "Nay, not so," 
Replied the Angel. Adhem spoke more low, 
But cheerly still, and said, "I pray thee, then, 
Write me as one that loves his fellow-men." 
The Angel wrote, and vanished. The next night 
It came again, with a great wakening light, 
And showed the names whom love of God had blest, 
And lo, Ben Adheres name led all the rest! 



Together 

Our Father, help us every day 
To live more nearly as we pray. 

[35] 



FATHER, WE THANK THEE 

Rebecca J. Weston Daniel Batchellor 



i 



m 



^=# 



f 



p 



•* H- -* 



2t 



i. Fa - ther, we thank thee for the night, 
2. Help us to do the things we should, 



iksJeJ 



M 



He 



i 



i= 



^3 



m 



§ 



*=* 



■^rr^tf 37 



Tf^if^ 



If r 

And for the pleasant morn- ing light ; For rest and food and 
To be to oth- ers kind and good ; In all we do of 



u 



^ 
^ 



J=J: 






s 



m 



iuv ing care, And all that makes the day so fair 
work or play To grow more lov - ing ev - Vy day 



' ' -i-a 



■& * 



m 



*£ 



=^= 



» * 



-<^- 



*=^ 



^=^= 



£ 



[36] 



XXII 

IN THE ARMS OF GOD 

O thou most holy and ever-loving God, we thank 
thee for the quiet rest of the night gone by, for the 
beauty that comes with the fresh morning, and for 
the strength and hope of this new day. While we 
have slept, the world in which we live has swept 
on in the awful space, but we have rested safely 
under the shadow of thy love. The bird sat on 
the spray out in the darkness, the flower nestled 
in the grass, we lay down in our home, and all 
slept in the arms of God. 

The bind will trust thee this day to give its 
morsel of food, and the flower will trust thee for 
its fresh raiment. So may we trust thee for all 
our needs. Give us this day our daily bread for 
body and for soul. Lead us in the way wherein 
we should walk, and quicken us to do thy will. 
For thou art our Father and our God : we are thy 
children, and we need the touch of thy hand. 



Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy day. 



37 



XXIII 

BACK OF THE LOAF 
Give us this day our daily bread. 



Back of the loaf is the snowy flour, 
And back of the flour is the mill, 
And back of the mill is the wheat, and the shower, 
And the sun, — and the Father's will. 



The eyes of all wait upon thee, and thou gi\ 
them their portion in due season. Thou gives! to 
the beast his food and to the young ravens that cry. 
Thou makest the grass to grow for the cattle, and 
fruit for the service of man. Thou openest thine 
hand and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. 



O sing and praise the Lord our Strength, 
our bountiful Provider! 

O'er hills and valleys wide he spreads 
the table of his blessing. 

Praise him, my soul, with thankful song, 
with songs of great rejoicing! 



Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy da] . 
[ 38 ] 



XXIV 

AN ALL-DAY PRAYER 

Our Father, thou art giving us blessings all the 
time: help us to be a blessing. 

Thou givest us these hands: use them as thine 
own. 

Thou givest us these feet: send them on thine 
errands. 

Thou givest us our voices : may they speak only 
gentleness and truth. 

Thou givest us this mind to think : may it think 
only clean, kind, noble thoughts. 

The love of those we love, the dear delights of 
home, the gladness of our work and play, — these 
all are ours, because thou lovest us: we would make 
others gladder every day with our love. Help us 
to be a blessing, Father! 

Something to please thee, we would learn; some 
little deed to thank thee with, instead of words; 
some little prayer to do, as well as say; some little 
thing to give to thee, who day and night art giving 
us so much. 



Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy day. 

[39] 



XXV 

ANOTHER BLUE DAY 

Here hath been dawning 
Another blue Day: 

Think, wilt thou let it 
Slip useless away? 

Out of Eternity 

This new Day is born; 
Into Eternity 

At night will return. 

Behold it aforetime 
No eye ever did; 

So soon it i 

From all eves is hid. 

Here hath been dawning 
Another blue Day: 

Think, wilt thou let it 
Slip useless aw, 



The things to learn are many, 
None truer than this one, — 

God's great blue Pay is incomplete 
Without my work well done. 



Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy day. 
[40I 



May be read in responses 

XXVI. THINK ON THESE THINGS 
Whatsoever is just and pure, 

Think on these things, my soul! 

Earth shall vanish, but these endure, 

Think on these things, my soul! 

When all else shall fail thee, 

These shall still avail thee : 

Think on these things, strive for these things, 

Cherish these things, my soul! 

Truth and honor, they call to thee, 

Think on these things, my soul ! 
What of virtue and praise there be, 
Think on these things, my soul! 
These have been the glory 
Of all human story: 
Think on these things, strive for these things, 
Cherish these things, my soul! 

Faithful spirits before have gone, 

Think on these things, my soul! 
Grand thy heritage, hero-won, 
Think on these things, my soul! 
From all brave endeavor 
Springeth good forever: 
Think on these things, strive for these things, 
Cherish these things, my soul! 

Together: Help us, in all we do and say, 

To make more beautiful thy day. 
[41 1 



XXVII 

I CAN — I OUGHT — I WILL 

So nigh is grandeur to our dust, 

So near is God to man, 
When Duty whispers low, Thou must, 

The youth replies, / can. 



Be good, be true, and let who will be clever; 
Do noble things, not dream them all day long, 
And so make life, death, and that vast forever, 
One grand, sweet song! 



Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all 
thy might, — were it but the dressing of your^lf, 
the sorting-away of your clothes and the making 
neat your room, the arranging of your playthings, 
the learning of your spelling-lesson, — whatsoever 
thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. 



Are you in earnest? Seize this very minute! 
What you can do, or think you can, begin it! 

Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy day. 
lV ] 



XXVIII 

LOVE MAKES LIFE 

Not a life so weak or lowly 

But, if love is there, 
Inward growing, outward flowing, 

May be strong and fair. 

Love for every unloved creature, 

Lonely, poor or small! 
Christ was born to show how truly 

Love makes Life for all. 



Not what we give, but what we share, 
For the gift without the giver is bare: 

Who gives himself with his alms feeds three, 
Himself, his hungering neighbor, and me. 



Together 

Help us, in all we do and say, 
To make more beautiful thy day. 



[ 43 1 



GLADLY, BRAVELY, ON AND ON 

Von Weber 



s£ 



V 



* %= * ^ is iy 



i 



*=*= 



i. Where the roads of ser - vice run, Lead us 
2. By the paths of du - ty done Lead us 

+■ - *- ♦ fc -p- 



II 



§s* 



^TT— T— ft 



fej#^p^^ 



glad - ly on and on ; May a \ light of love like 
brave - ly on and on; Day by^ day, and hour by 



sM^- 



P" hm ■#■ 



fcm^ 



— 



t=£ 



-*— *- 



3=*=^ 



5 



"ST 



thine All a - round our foot-steps shine ! 

hour, On - ward, up - ward, ev - er - more I A- MEN. 



I 






"I ^ 

f 44 1 



is 



xxrx 

LIKE A MOTHER 

Like a cradle rocking, rocking, 

Silent, peaceful, to and fro, 
Like a mothers sweet looks dropping 

On the little face below, 
Hangs the green earth, swinging, turning, 

Jarless, noiseless, safe and slow; 
Falls the light of God's face bending 

Down and watching us below. 

And as feeble babes that suffer, 

Toss and cry and will not rest, 
Are the ones the tender mother 

Holds the closest, loves the best, — 
So when we are weak and wretched, 

By our sins weighed down, distressed, 
Then it is that God's great patience 

Holds us closest, loves us best. 



Together 

Bless us all, and may we be 
Ever thankful unto thee. 



U5] 



XXX. MORE THAN THIS 
I saw the beauty of the world 
Before me like a flag unfurled, 
The splendor of the morning sky, 
And all the stars in company: 
I thought, How beautiful it is! 

My soul said, There is more than this. 

Sometimes I have an awful thought 
That bids me do the thing I ought: 
It comes like wind, it burns like flame, — 
How shall I give that thought a name? 
It draws me like a loving ki 

My soul says, There is more than this. 

I dreamed an angel of the Lord, 
With purple wings and golden sword, 
And such a splendor in his face 
As made a glory in the place: 
I thought, How beautiful he is! 

My soul said, There is more than this. 

That angel's Lord I cannot see 

Or hear, but he is Lord to me; 

And in the heavens and earth and skies, 

The good which lives till evil di 

The love which I can not withstand, 

God writes his name with his own hand. 



Together: Bless us all, and may we be 
Ever thankful unto thee. 
[ 46 ] 



XXXI 

THE GLAD TIDINGS 

He went through the cities and villages, shewing 
the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. 

AND THIS IS THE GLAD TIDINGS 

God is our Father, 

Earth is our Mother, 

Man is our Brother: 
To Share and to Serve is the Glory of Life. 

Self-saving is Dying, 

Self -giving is Living, 
Who makes himself least is the greatest of all. 

No room for Sadness, 

Duty is Gladness, 
Life is Eternal, and Love is its Law. 



Together 

Bless us all, and may we be 
Ever thankful unto thee. 



[47] 



te 



HOLY, PURE, AND THINE 

W. H. Neidlinger 



^ 



i. Fa - ther, Thou our Strength and Stay, 
2. Lit - tie pray'r, you'll keep me strong 



^^ 



ifck 



j=J4-J4> J j l ip 

r r 



Teach a grate -ful child to pray : %< Make me in" my 
When I'm tempt-ed to do wrong, Sing-ing in my 

fcz~zzz 



gSfe! 



^ 



5 



*> 



:i 



££ 



' : 



t* 



* :*&.« 



heart to - day Ho - ly. pure, and thine ! " 
^heart the song, "Ho - ly, pure, and thine ! ■ A -men. 



* 5 



% 



I 



as* 



TTrTrl 



I 

Copyright , \V. H. Neidlinger: use d by permission 

[48] 



DAYS AND SEASONS 



NEW YEAR 

Who comes dancing over the snow, 

His soft little feet all bare and rosy? 

Open the door, though the wild winds blow, 

Take the child in and make him cozy; 

Take him in, and hold him dear, — 

He is the wonderful New Year! 



Another year of happy work, 

That better is than play; 
Of simple cares, and love that grows 

More sweet from day to day. 

Another year to follow hard 
Where better souls have trod ; 

Another year of life's delight, — 
Another year of God ! 



Build thee more stately mansions, O my soul, 

As the swift seasons roll! 
Leave thy low- vaulted past! 

Let each new temple, nobler than the last, 
Shut thee from heaven with a dome more vast, 

Till thou at length art free, 
Leaving thine outgrown shell by life's unresting sea ! 

[51 ] 



SPRING BIRTH 

For the changing Seasons and the beautiful Face 
of the Year, we bless thee, O God; we praise thy 
glorious Name. 

For the coming of Spring; for the re-birth of life 
and all flowering things; for running brooks and 
budding woods and bird-song in the trees, — we lift 
our glad song of wonder and praise. 



The year's at the Spring, 
And day's at the morn; 
Morning's at seven, 
The hillside's dew-pearled; 
The lark's on the wing, 
The snail's on the thorn: 
God's in his heaven, — 
All's right with the world! 



152 1 



SUMMER BEAUTY 

For the changing Seasons and the beautiful Face 
of the Year, we bless thee, God; we praise thy 
glorious Name. 

For Summer's joyous hours; for the vision of 
beauty on every side ; for the glory of hills and the 
sea and the wide green earth, of sunrise and sun- 
set and twilight and star-lit nights, — we lift our glad 
song of wonder and praise. 



The days are gliding swiftly by, 
The days so bright and golden; 

In leaf and flower the Summer writes 
Her poem sweet and olden. 

The earth is warm with life and joy, 

The air is full of splendor, 
And unto all the south wind brings 

Her message sweet and tender. 

O Giver of these summer hours, 

With all thy creatures living 
We sing a song of mirth and joy f 

A song of glad thanksgiving. 

The golden days, the long bright days, 

The gladdest of the year! 
The green grass springs, the wild bird sings, 

The Summer time is here! 
I 53 1 



HARVEST BOUNTY; 

For the changing Seasons and the beautiful Face 
of the Year, we bless thee, O God; we praise thy 
glorious Name. 

For bountiful Autumn ; for the red and gold of the 
woodlands; for the wheat and corn and the ripened 
fruits, and the merry-makings of Harvest Home, 
— we lift our glad song of wonder and praise. 



Praise him for his budding green, 
April's resurrection-scene: 
Praise him for his shining hours, 
Starring all the land with flowers: 

Praise him for his tiny seed, 
Holding all his world shall need: 
Praise him for his summer rain, 
Feeding, day and night, the grain: 

Praise him for his garden root, 
Meadow grass and orchard fruit: 
Praise for hills and valleys broad, 
Each the Table of the Lord! 

Praise him now for snowy rest, 
Falling soft on Nature's breast: 
For his year of wonder done 
Praise to the All-Glorious One! 
[54] 



WINTER GLORY 

For the changing Seasons and the beautiful Face 
of the Year, we bless thee, O God; we praise thy 
glorious Name. 

For the splendor of Winter days and nights; for 
the starry hosts of the storm; for the sparkling 
silence of snow-clad fields, — we lift our glad song of 
wonder and praise. 

All beautiful the march of days, 

As seasons come and go: 
The Hand that shaped the rose hath wrought 

The crystal of the snow; 
Hath sent the hoary frost of heaven, 

The flowing waters sealed, 
And laid a silent loveliness 

On hill and wood and field. 

O'er white expanses sparkling pure 

The radiant morns unfold; 
The solemn splendors of the night 

Burn brighter through the cold. 
Life mounts in every throbbing vein, 

Love deepens round the hearth, 
And clearer sounds the angel-hymn, 

" Good- Will to men on earth !" . 

O glory of the winter-land ! 

O peace of Nature's rest! 
And sweet the dream of coming Spring 

That stirs within her breast. 
On move the Resurrection hours, 

The Easter heralds throng, — 
Till sudden bursts the miracle 

Of blossom and of song! 
[55] 



EASTER 
The flowers have begun to greet us in our walks, 
— dumb angels, their faces all a-shine with the glad 
tidings that the Resurrection Season is at hand. 

Over the land in glory 

Breaketh the Easter morn: 
Nature repeateth her story, — 

Life out of death new-born! 
Lo, the year's at the Spring, 

Buds are blossoming, 
Earth and heavens sing: 

Life is life forever, evermore! 

Listen, the birds are singing, 

Softly the south winds play ; 
Bells in the steeples ringing 

Welcome the festal day: 
And the message they bear 

On the radiant air 

Chides sorrow and fear: 

Life is life forever, evermore! 

Skies of the spirit brighten, 

Hopes like the birds return; 
Hearts with the promise lighten, — 
"Blessed are they that mourn!" 
To each winter a Spring 
God will surely bring, 

And the heart shall sing: 

Life is life forever, evermore! 

[56] 



THE CHRISTMAS POEM 

Joseph and Mary went up out of Nazareth unto 
Bethlehem, the city of David. And while they 
were there, Mary brought forth her first-born son, 
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid 
him in a manger; because there was no room for 
them in the inn. 

Now there were in the same country shepherds 
abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock 
by night. And lo, the Angel of the Lord came 
upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round 
about them; and they were sore afraid. And the 
Angel said unto them: Fear not; for behold I 
bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be 
to all people. For unto you is born this day in 
the city of David a Savior, which is Christ, the 
Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you: Ye shall 
find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying 
in a manger. And suddenly there was with the 
Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising 
God and saying, 

Glory to God in the highest, 
And on earth Peace, 
Good-Will toward men. 

When the Angels were gone away from them into 
heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us 
now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing 
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made 

[57 1 



known to us. And they came with haste, and 
found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a 
manger. And when they had seen it, they made 
known abroad the saying which was told them 
concerning this child. And all they that heard it 
wondered at those things which were told them by 
the shepherds. And the shepherds returned, glori- 
fying and praising God for all the things that they 
had heard and seen, as it was told unto them. 

But Mary kept all these things, and pondered 
them in her heart. And the child grew and waxed 
strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace 
of God was upon him. 

This is the dear and beautiful story that people used to 
believe, and many still do, about the coming of Jesus. 

In old times, if a man were very good and holy, people 
were apt to think that God had sent him into the world in 
some unusual way. Jesus was the Spirit of Peace and Good- 
Will, and his nation had long been expecting just such a man 
to appear and make everyone better and happier. Those 
who loved him best thought that the angels in heaven, as well 
as the poor folk (the shepherds) and wise men of earth, must 
have been full of joy at his birth. So this is the story they 
began to tell about the night in which he was born. It rose 
as a poem in the heart of the people, which they soon came to 
believe in as fact; and it found its way into the Bible. There 
are many other such stories in the world, — poems believed to 
be true stories; and others than this in our Bible. Many of 
them, like this one, are true in spirit, though not true in fact, 
and we love them for the spiritual truth, which abides. But 
few are so lovely as our Christmas poem. 

[58] 



GEORGE WASHINGTON 
February 22 

Life-rule found in Washington's school-boy copy-book 

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little 
spark of celestial fire — Conscience. 



From Washington's Farewell Address 

Observe good faith and justice towards all na- 
tions; cultivate peace and harmony with all. It 
will be worthy of a free, enlightened and great 
nation to give to mankind the example of a people 
always guided by an exalted justice and benevo- 
lence. 



The longer on this earth we live 
And weigh the various qualities of men, 
The more we feel the high stern-featured beauty 
Of plain devotedness to duty, 
Steadfast and still, nor paid with mortal praise, 
But finding amplest recompense 
For life's ungarlanded expense 
In work done squarely and unwasted days. 
For this we honor him. 

He chose, as men choose, where most danger showed, 
And kept right on the strenuous, uphill road. 
Broad-minded, higher-souled, there is but one 
Who was all this and ours, and all men's, — 
Washington! 
[ 59 ] 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN 
February 12 

Lincoln said to a friend 

Die when I may, I want it said of me by those 
who know me best that I always plucked a thistle 
and planted a flower, when I thought a flower 
would grow. 

From Lincoln's Gettysburg Address 

Let us here highly resolve that these dead shall 
not have died in vain; that this nation, under God, 
shall have a new birth of freedom ; and that govern- 
ment of the People, by the People, for the People, 
shall not perish from the earth. 

From Lincoln's Second Inaugural 

With malice towards none, with charity for all, 
with firmness in the right as God gives us to see 
the right, let us strive on to finish the work. 



Such was he, our Martyr-Chief. 

How beautiful to see 
Once more a Shepherd of Mankind indeed, 
One whose meek flock the people joyed to be, 

Not lured by any cheat of birth, 

But by his clear-grained human worth, 
And brave old wisdom of sincerity! 
Great captains, with their guns and drums, 

Disturb our judgment for the hour, 
But at last silence comes; 
These all are gone, and, standing like a tower, 

Our children shall behold his fame, 
The kindly-earnest, brave, foreseeing man, 
Sagacious, patient, dreading praise, not blame, 
New birth of our new soil, the first American! 

[ 60 ] 



BIRTHDAYS IN THE HOME 

For Home, and its daily communion of gladness; 
For the strong heart of fathers, for the gentleness of 
mothers, for the laughter and music of children; 
For brothers and sisters, for kindred and friends, — 
We thank the dear Father of all. 

Sweeter is Home because you are part of its sunshine ; 
Gladder and dearer the days because of your love. 

Your New Year begins : 
Love be our gift to you, Love without shadow! 
Daisy-time, clover-time, aster-time, snow-time, 

Love the year round ! 



You 



Spring has the flowers and singing birds, 

The skies of azure hue; 
But sweetest and dearest and best of all, 
Spring brought youl 

Summer is glory of hills and plains, 

And fields of wheat and corn ; 
But sweetest and dearest and best of all, 
You were born ! 

Autumn — the woodlands are red and gold, 

The valleys a harvest-mirth; 
But sweetest and dearest and best of all, 
You reached earth! 

Winter — and splendor of days and nights, 

And hearts a Christmas flame; 
But sweetest and dearest and best of all, 
You — you came ! 

[61 ] 



OUR COUNTRY 

O Beautiful for spacious skies, 

For amber waves of grain, 
For purple mountain majesties 

Above the fruited plain, 
America, America, 

God shed his grace on thee, 
And crown thy good with brotherhood 

From sea to shining sea! 



O God, our fathers have told us what deeds thou 
didst in the days of old. With a strong hand thou 
didst guide the people over the sea. When they 
were very few and strangers in the land, when they 
were wandering in the wilderness and found no 
city to dwell in, when they were hungry and thirsty 
and their souls grew faint within them, then they 
cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he deliv- 
ered them out of their distresses. Blessed is the 
people whose God is the Lord. 

The little one hath become a thousand, and the 
small one a strong nation. Our portion hath 
fallen to us in pleasant places; yea, we have a 
goodly heritage. Blessed is the people whose God 
is the Lord. 

Blessed art thou, O Land, when thou makest thy 
rulers Righteousness, and thine officers Peace. For 
righteousness exalteth a Nation, and by justice is 
the State established. 

Our God be with us as he was with our fathers. 

Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. 

[62 ] 



THE BROTHERHOOD OF NATIONS 
The airs of heaven blow o'er me; 
A glory shines before me 
Of what mankind shall be, — 
Pure, generous, brave and free.: 
A dream of man and woman 
Diviner but still human, 
Solving the riddle old, 
Shaping the Age of Gold ! 

These things shall be! Great nations and little, 
strong nations and weak, shall live with each other 
as brothers and sisters; none saying that Might 
makes Right; none saying, "Our Country, right or 
wrong ;" but each one seeking and finding its good 
in the joy of the world. Are not all of thy house- 
hold, O God, and thou the God and Father of all? 



Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 
Neither shall they learn war any more. 
Men shall beat their swords into plowshares, 
And their spears into pruning-hooks. 
Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir-tree, 
And instead of the brier the myrtle; 
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, the leopard lie 
down with the kid; a little child shall lead them. 
The work of righteousness shall be peace, 
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assur- 
ance forever; 
And the earth shall be full of the knowledge of God, 
As the waters cover the sea. 

[63] 



LITTLE PRAYERS 



MORNING 

To pray is but to cross a sill 

From crowded rooms, their noise and glare, 

Into the star-lit calm of night, 

That all the while was waiting there. 

The soul is gateway to the Life 

That breathes through all of time and space: 

We do but lift the bar, and find 

That we with God are face to face. 



Frances W. Wile 



Before my words of prayer are said 
I close my eyes and bow my head; 
I try to think to whom I pray, 
And try to mean the words I say. 



Father, take this heart of mine, 
Make it pure and wholly thine; 
I thy little child would be, 
Trusting, loving, serving thee. 

II 

Father in heaven, on bended knee, 

A little child I come to thee. 

For life and parents, health and food, 

For home and friends and all things good, 

I give thee thanks, and humbly pray 

Thy help to make me good alway. 

HI 
Holy Father, hear my prayer! 
Safely folded in thy care, 
All the day and all the night 
We are ever in thy sight. 
Trying always to be good, 
Quick to do the things I should, 
Loving them that love me so, 
Kind to everyone I know, 
Father, I thy child would be, 
Loving all things loved by thee. 

[67] 



IV 

Father, lead me day by day 
Ever in thine own dear way. 
If I'm tempted to do wrong, 
Make me steadfast, wise and strong; 
Show me what I ought to do, 
Teach me to be pure and true. 

When my work seems hard and dry, 
May I press on cheerily; 
When my heart is full of glee, 
Help me to remember thee; 
Happy most of all to know 
That my Father loves me so. 

V 

God, who art so loving and so wise, I thank thee 
for this new day. Help me to do my work joyfully 
and faithfully. Teach me to be truthful and gen- 
erous and thoughtful of others. Make me more 
gentle. Make me brave to do thy will. Make me 
sorry, when I do wrong. Bless my friends and give 
them greater happiness. Make the world a better 
place to live in. Give it more of the spirit of Jesus. 
Help us every day to grow more Christlike. Amen. 



68 ] 



VI 

O God, our heavenly Father, I thank thee for 
all my blessings, for home and friends and this 
beautiful world. Bless all that are in this house 
and everywhere in the world. And help me to 
grow better every day. Amen. 

VII 

Give me clean hands, clean words, clean thoughts, 
O God ! Help me to stand for the hard right against 
the easy wrong. Save me from habits that harm. 
Teach me to work as hard and play as fair when in 
thy sight alone, as if all the world saw. Forgive 
me when I am unkind, and help me to forgive those 
who are unkind to me. Keep me ready to help 
others at some cost to myself. Send me chances to 
do a little good every day, and so grow more like 
Christ. Amen. 



[69 ] 



BED-TIME 

Little Jesus, wast thou shy 

Once, and just so small as I? 

Didst thou kneel at night to pray, 

And didst thou join thy hands, this way? 

And did thy mother at the night 

Kiss thee, and fold the clothes in right? 

And didst thou feel quite good in bed, 

Kiss'd, and sweet, and thy prayers said? 

Francis Thompson 



Learn the little lines by heart, 
And at night, upon your bed, 
Let them brighten in your thought 
As the stars above your head, 
Till the Quiet far and near 
Fills with God beside you here. 



Now I lay me down to sleep, 
Father, thou my soul wilt keep. 
I shall rest beneath thy care ; 
Let me wake thy life to share, 

II 

Father, tender Shepherd, hear me, 

Bless thy little one to-night; 
Through the darkness be thou near me, 

Keep me safe till morning light. 

All this day thy hand hath led me, 
And I thank thee for thy care; 

Thou hast warmed me, clothed and fed me; 
Listen to my evening prayer. 

Ill 

Another day its course has run, 

And still, O God, thy child is blest; 

For thou hast been by day my sun, 
And thou wilt be by night my rest. 

Sweet sleep descends my eyes to close, 
And now, when all the world is still, 

I give my body to repose, 

My spirit to my Father's will. 

[73 ] 



IV 

Now I close another day, 

I have quit my work and play, 

And if I have done my best, 

I shall sweetly sleep and rest. 

I will trust the Loving Care 

That enfolds me everywhere, 

And will keep me pure of heart, 

If I only do my part. 

If I try, I know I may 

Grow in goodness day by day. 



Father, who keepest Keep as thou keepest, 

The stars in thy care, The soft night through, 

Me, too, thy little one, The long white lilies 

Kneeling in prayer, Asleep in thy dew. 

VI 

My spirit I to love compose, 
In humble trust mine eyelids close 
With reverential resignation; 
No wish conceived, no thought expressed, 
Only a sense of supplication, — 
A sense o'er all my soul impressed 
That I am weak, yet not unblest, 
Since in me, round me, everywhere 
Eternal Strength and Wisdom are. 
[74l 



VII 

Now the day is over, 
Night is drawing nigh; 

Shadows of the evening 
Steal across the sky. 

Now the darkness gathers, 

Stars begin to peep; 
Birds and beasts and flowers 

Soon will be asleep. 

Father, give the weary 
Calm and sweet repose; 

With thy tenderest blessing 
May our eyelids close. 

Grant to little children 
Visions bright of thee ; 

Guard the sailors tossing 
On the deep blue sea. 

Through the long night-watches 
May thine angels spread 

Their white wings above me, 
Watching round my bed. 

When the morning wakens, 

Then may I arise 
Pure and fresh and sinless 

In thy holy eyes. 

[75 1 



HOUSEHOLD THANKSGIVINGS 
AT MEAL-TIMES 



For this new morning with its light, 
For rest and shelter of the night, 
For health and food, for home and friends, 
For everything thy goodness sends, 
We thank thee, heavenly Father. 
Together: Amen. 

II 

For our quiet sleep all night, 
Watched by stars above us bright, 
For the gladness of the morn 
And the laugh of earth reborn, 
Together: Praise and thanks to thee we give, 
Father in whose love we live ! 

For thy world of creatures fed 
By the gift of daily bread, 
For the tones and faces dear, 
Making homes of joy and cheer, 
Together: Praise and thanks to thee we give, 
Father in whose love we live ! 



[79 ] 



Ill 

Back of the loaf is the snowy flour, 
And back of the flour is the mill, 
And back of the mill is the wheat, and the shower, 
And the sun, — and the Father's will. 



Father, thank thee for this food, 
Thee the source of all our good. 
Bless us all, and may we be 
Ever thankful unto thee. 
Together: Amen. 

IV 

The Lord bless us, and keep us; 
The Lord make his face to shine upon us, 

and be gracious unto us; 
The Lord lift up his countenance upon us, 
And give us peace. 



80 ] 



THOU ART GREAT AND THOU ART GOOD 



1 4 j t 



*=* 



Thou art great and thou art good, And we thank thee 

m m „ „ *- -?- -fZ- *.*-■$!*- 



*=* 



Pg 



*=t 



i 



m 



-75- 



^^ 



w 



for this food : By thy hand must we be fed ; 

-•--f 2 - m * m m ±- *- &- 



-&- 



^ 



HS>- 



he 



-<*S >~j ■-■ 



=i= 






Give us, Lord, our dai - ly bread. 

#■#.?: f ♦ ♦ ^ 
r* 1 1— rr i £— 



A - MEN. 



H 

r 



l 8i J 



Deaadified using the Bookkeeper process 
Neutralizing agent: Magnesium Oxide 
Treatment Date: Nov. 2005 

PreservationTechnologies 

A WORLD LEAOER IN PAPER PRESERVATION 

CMfetayToaMMt ^ A MM 



01/ 

W7» 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 




017 077 464 4 



